Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

The Congress finds the following:

(1) Arecibo Observatory is the world's largest single-aperture
    telescope. It has been recognized as an Electrical Engineering
    Milestone by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
    and as a Mechanical Engineering Landmark by the American Society
    of Mechanical Engineers. Its visitor center draws 120,000 visitors
    each year.

(2) Arecibo radio astronomy led to the first discovery of planets
    outside our own solar system, the first discovery of a binary
    pulsar (resulting in a Nobel Prize), and the first detailed
    three-dimensional mapping of how galaxies are distributed in the
    universe.

(3) Arecibo Observatory's planetary radar has unique abilities
    worldwide for research on our solar system, including near-Earth
    asteroids. Besides their scientific importance, near-Earth
    asteroids may be both a significant hazard to Earth and a
    potential source of future resources.

(4) Arecibo Observatory is a leading United States laboratory for
    research on Earth's ionosphere.

(5) Congress has mandated that the National Aeronautics and Space
    Administration detect, track, catalogue, and characterize
    near-Earth asteroids and comets in order to provide warning and
    mitigation of the potential hazard of such near-Earth objects to
    the Earth. By being on the forefront of basic research involving
    Near-Earth Objects, Space Weather, and Global Climate Change, the
    Arecibo Observatory is an outstanding resource to Congress and to
    the American People.

(6) The efforts taken to date by the National Aeronautics and Space
    Administration and the National Science Foundation for detecting
    and characterizing the hazards of Earth orbit-crossing asteroids
    and comets are not sufficient to the threat posed by such objects
    to cause widespread destruction and loss of life.

(7) The general welfare and security of the United States require that
    the unique competence of the National Aeronautics and Space
    Administration in science and engineering systems be directed to
    detecting, tracking, cataloging, and characterizing near-Earth
    asteroids and comets. The Arecibo Observatory is an invaluable and
    unique asset in warning and mitigating potential hazards posed by
    near-Earth objects.

SEC. 2. CONTINUATION OF OPERATION.

The Director of the National Science Foundation shall--

(1) ensure that the Arecibo Observatory is fully funded to continue
    its research on Earth's ionosphere, continue its research in radio
    astronomy, and continue research on the solar system; and

(2) coordinate with the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and
    Space Administration to ensure that the capabilities of the
    Arecibo Observatory continue to be available for National
    Aeronautics and Space Administration research in characterizing
    and mitigating Near Earth Objects, and other research as needed.